Page 72 of Ridin' True

“I get that,” he replied gently.

Without even trying, I relaxed a little bit more.

His words reminded me of his patience, and for the second time that evening, I thought back to the night at the storage unit. Then, I’d been unraveling before his eyes, and he didn’t even flinch. Now, his calm and steady demeanor—his quiet, reassuring presence waseverything.

I pressed up onto my tiptoes and wrapped my arms around his shoulders, tucking my face against his neck. I breathed him in—sandalwood and leather, with a touch of smoke—and I let it all go.

All I wanted was Jed.

“This isn’t how I pictured tonight,” I murmured.

“Night’s not over, gorgeous. You hungry?”

I paused to think about it, food having been the last thing on my mind. Now that he mentioned it…

“Yeah, actually.”

“Sure I’ve got somethin’ I can throw on the grill.”

Pulling away enough to see his face, I offered, “I can help. I mean, not with the grill part, but I can put together a side dish.”

“Anything you can find in the kitchen is up for grabs.”

“Okay,” I said, smiling for the first time in hours. “And do you think, maybe, we could eat out by the fire?”

“If I start one,” he teased.

“Will you? For me?”

“It’ll cost you,” he said with a smirk.

I didn’t bother asking what it might cost.

I just went ahead and paid up.

“Lex,darlin’,wegottaroll,” hollered Jed from the kitchen.

I didn’t respond, too busy concentrating on my eyeliner.

There was no time to redo it if I messed up, so I wasn’t going to mess up.

A couple minutes later, I had finished applying eyeshadow and was moving on to mascara when I heard his booted feet headed my way.

“Lex—”

“Yes, I know, I’m late. I’m very aware.”

He leaned into the bathroom, and I glanced at the reflection he cast in the mirror.

“Technically, this is your fault.”

“Myfault?” he asked with a raised brow. “If I recall, you’re the one who took my dick out this mornin’.”

“Sure. Yes.ButI didn’t think it would last that long,” I countered, twisting my mascara closed.

He grinned, and I tried not to do the same as he replied, “So, you’re blamin’ me for my stamina?”

“Yup, exactly,” I said, finally ready to remove my satin curling rod.